Device for applying granular materials



Jn 25 193,8- o. D. sHoNNARD 2,105,470

DEVICE FOR APPLYING GRANULAR MATERIALS Af f l ri L 11- l z y; l" gnu unuillllnm-luw Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES DEVICE FOR APPLYING GRANULAR MATERIALS Orlando D. Shonnard,

Upper Montclair, N. J.,

assigner to Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, `lersey City, N. J., a. corporation of New Jersey Application January 14, 1937, Serial No. 120,547

9 Claims.

The invention relates Vto' an improvement in devices for applying granular materials to surfaces, and more especially to devices for applying iinely divided-materials, such as powdered 1 graphite, plumbago, and the like, to surfaces to be lubricated or protected from the action of the atmosphere and other deleterious action. More particularly the invention relates to an improvement in such devices provided with` means for T opening and shutting the nozzle.

It 'has been proposed heretofore to provide nozzle `controlled devices for expelling nely divided materials, in the form of a small cloud, as to surfaces requiring lubrication or protection, and

15' several such devices, some of them patented, have appeared on the market. Although the attempt has been made to satisfy the demand for such devices, especially those for applying powdered graphite, the devices which have heretofore appeared have not been entirely satisfactory for all 20 uses, since their construction has involved expenses requiring a retail price beyond that of many purchasers. Hence, there has arisen a demand for a device of this character which can be produced at low cost and so sold to the trade unable to purchase the more elaborately constructed devices for applying finely divided materials.

' One object of the present invention is to produce an improved and simplied device for expel- 50 ling from a reservoir finely divided material when needed, such as powdered graphite or the like to surfaces requiring lubrication, or protection from the action of the atmosphere or the action of other natural elements. A further object of the invention is to produce a device of this character of such construction that it can be manufactured cheaply and so be sold at retail at prices within the range of the purchasing power of large numbers of persons who cannot afford to purchase the more expensive and elaborate devices of this nature heretofore placed on the market.

Another object of the invention is to provide such devices with improved means for controlling the expulsion of the powdered ,materiaL Another object of the invention is to produce a 'device of this character having provision for ready removal of the nozzle assembly for refilling and cleaning purposes, should those occasions arise. To these ends the invention consists in the improved device for applying finely divided materials hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form ofthe' invention, Fig. l'is a side (ci. zei-32) elevation of the improved device for applying 1 granular materials, with the nozzle turned to open position; Fig. 2 is a View of the upper part of the device shown in Fig. 1, but with the nozzle turned to closed or shut position; Fig. 3 is a top 5 plan of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and showing the nozzle in open position; Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but with the nozzle in closed position; Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4; and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views-similar to Fig. 4, of modified forms of the invention.

The improved device for expressing and applying nely divided materials, such as applying powdered-graphite or other'granular materials to surfaces, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises an elongated resilient cylindrical reservoir I0, which may conveniently be composed of any resilient material, such as Celluloid, closed at its inner or lower end II and open at its outer or upper end I2. In the open end I2 of the cylindrical resilient reservoir I0 is located a plug or stopperk|4 composed of a resilient material, such as cork. The resilient plug I4 has a smooth cylindrical exterior to iit tightly in the outer end of the reservoir, and flat inner and outer faces. The plug I4 may be permanently secured in the open end-of the reservoir I0, as by cementing, or it may be tightly but removably located therein, being secured against accidental removal therefrom by any convenient means such as the nail` I3.

In thepreferred form of the 'invention illustratediin Figs. l to 6, the plug I4 is provided axially throughout its length with a cylindrical bore adapted to'receive snugly but rotatably the tubular inner part or extension I5 of a nozzle assembly consisting of the conical tubular nozzle proper Il provided at its inner end with a disk- 40 like collar I6 having a flat inner face adapted to seat against the outer end of the reservoir I 0 and adjacent to the outer face of plug I4, as shown in-Figs. 4 and 5. From the center lof the collar I6 the conical tubular nozzle I1 extends outwardly, having a contracted orice I9 in its outer end. The inwardly extending portion rI5 of the nozzle assembly constitutes an inner prolongation of the nozzle I1. The disk-like collar I6 is provided atits outer edge with a rearwardly extending annular ange IB which snugly but rotatably embraces the exterior surface of the outer end of the reservoir I0 so that the nozzle structure as a whole, composed o f the parts I5, I6, I1 and I8, may be rotated,

It has been found desirable in the operation of devices like that of the present invention, for expressing from a container or reservoir nely divided materials, such as powdered graphite, to provide means for preventing the expulsion of the material except when needed. -To this end the device of the present invention isprovided with novel means for permitting the expression of the finely divided material 28 from the reservoir Il! only when needed, and for preventing the accidental expulsion of the material from the device when it is not in operation: The inner end of the tubular portion I5 of the nozzle, which is wholly received within the central bore of the resilient plug I4, is closed by a cap 2l of not larger diameter than the part I5, and is provided laterally near its inner extremity with a small hole or aperture 22 (of substantially the same size as the orice I9) which when the device is to be used opens into a recess or bore 24, which serves as an auxiliary reservoir, formed in the inner end of the plug I4 and opening into the cylindrical bore in the plug in which the partl I5 of the nozzle is located. The internal diameters of the inner nozzle part I5 and the bore or recess 24 are substantially the same. When the nozzle is in this position, with the hole 22 opening into the recess 24, an arrow 25 located on the sloping outer surface 26 of the collar I6, is in registry with a mark or line 21 on the exterior surface of the outer end of the reservoir I8, the mark 21 being designated by the legend Open.

It is desirable to permit only a predetermined amount of nely divided material 20 to be expelled at one operation of the device to pass into the recess 24 from the reservoir. For this purpose a plate 28 secured against the lower or inner face of the plug I4 is provided with a hole 29 (of substantially the same size as or smaller than the hole 22) which permits only restricted quantities of the material 26 to pass into the recess 24 when the resilient sides of the reservoir are squeezed, thereby preventing clogging of the ducts of the device. From the recess 24 the granular material passes outthrough the aperture 22 and the orifice I9.

Plate 28 is preferably of a stiff, compression resistant material, such as fiber or metal, having an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the cylindrical reservoir I0. At its central point the plate 28 is perforated to receive the inner extremity of the nozzle part I5. The plate 28 may be secured to the inner face of the resilient plug I4 by any convenient means, as by cementing, or by the nails 30. It is well known that although cork is resilient, and may be easily compressed, it does not tend readily to return to its former size or position, and that after repeated compressions it is appreciably smaller than its original size. In order to prevent the inner end of the resilient-plug I4, which is conveniently composed of. cork, from being compressed into a permanently less size than its original diameter, the present inventionprovides at the end or face of the plug I4, the plate 28 which resists the inward compression of the outer end of the reservoir I0,\when the middle portion thereof is squeezed to express the nely divided material from the reservoir. In this manner the original size of the resilient plug I4 is preserved and it continues to fit tightly in the open end of the reservoir throughout the active service of the device. i

By rotating the nozzle structure in either direction, the hole 22 is moved away from alinement with the recess 24 and is brought against the wall of the central bore in the plug I4, whereby egress of material from the device is prevented, since the tubular part I5 of the nozzle is snugly engaged by the central cylindrical bore in the resilient plug. Although the recess 24 is conveniently a cylindricalbore in the inner end of the plug I4, and so extends only a short distance around the circumference of the cylindrical inner end I5 of the nozzle, the Shut position of the nozzle is conveniently indicated on the opposite side of the cylindrical reservoir I0, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 2.

In the modied form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 the tubular inner portion 34 of the nozzle 36, corresponding to the tubular inner portion I5 of the nozzle structure of Figs. l to 6, terminates within the plug 35 short of the inner face 3'I thereof and is closed by a plug 38, which presses snugly against the bottom of the central bore in the plug 35. The nely divided material 2U is expressed from the resilient reservoir I out through the orifice 39 of the nozzle 36 by way of, the hole 4I in the plug 38, the hole 42 in the inner end of the resilient plug 35 against which the plug 38 seats, and the hole 43 formed in the plate 44 corresponding to the plate 28 in Figs. 4 and 5. The hole 4I is Veccentrlcally located in the plug 38, and is adapted to register in one position of the nozzle 36 with the holes 42 and 43, which are located in stationary parts of the device. vHence, when the nozzle 36 is turned in either direction a short distance the hole 4I is moved out of alinement with the holes 42 and 43, and when it is turned inthe reverse direction the proper amount, the hole 4I is again brought into registry with the holes 42 and 43.

In the modified formI of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the inner tubular portion 45 of the nozzle 46 is provided with a cup-shaped sealing plug 41 having a lateral flange 48 which overlies not only the inner end of the tubular portion 45 of the nozzle but also the adjacent inner part 49 of the plate 50, which construction prevents the removal of the nozzle 46 from the device unless the fastening means such as the nail 52 for preventing accidental removal of the plug 53 fromv the outer end of the reservoir Il) is rst taken out. The plate I) shown in Fig. 8 may conveniently be held against the inner face of the plug 43 by the teeth 55 turned outwardly from the plate itself. In respects other than those described above, the fo-rm of the invention shown in Fig. 8, is similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It will be understood that the nozzle assembly: shown in Fig. 8 constitutes with the resilientl plug 53 a unitary structure for removal from and reinsertion in the open end of the reservoir.

The device of the present invention for applying iinely divided materials on surfaces, because of its simplicity of construction and consequent low selling price, justies its cost when the material, such as powdered graphite, contained within the reservoir I0 is used up. The empty device can then be thrown away. With the more frugally minded,lhowever, there is a demand for rellable devices. Those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 may all be relled by removing the means holding the resilient plug in the open end of the reservoir and then by one means or another abstracting the sealing plug. However, these forms ofthe invention are not particularly adapted for ready removal of the sealing'plug from CJI the reservoir. A more vconvenient means of re-' moving the sealing plug for refilling the reser- Voir is shown in the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9, which is substantially the same in construction and mode of operation as the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to S, except that the resilient sealing plug 5l is shown provided with an outwardly extending part $4 the outside diameter of which is substantially the same as the outside diameterof the cylindrical reservoir l0, and is provided with a shoulder 59 which seats against the outer open end of the reservoir l0. In this form of the invention the slightly conical collar 60 of the nozzle 6| terminates at its outer edge 63 flush with the periphery of the outer end 64 of the resilient plug 5l, thereby providing an area which maybe grasped by the fingers of the user and so be readily pulled out of the reservoir Ill, after removing the fastening means, such as the nail 65, which holds the resilient plug 51 against accidental displacement from the reservoir I. In this connection, it will be understood that the cooperation of the resilient materials of which the reservoir and sealing plug are composed hold the plug tightly in the reservoir, and that the auxiliary fastening means, such as the nails shown in the various modiiications of the invention are only provided to secure against accidental removal of the plugs. `It will be understood further that in those cases in which the resilient sealing plug is not to be removed from the reservoir, it may be permanently secured therein, as by means of cement or the like without the use of mechanical fastening means.

Whether the resilient sealing plugs are'permanently or removably secured in the reservoirs, the nozzles may or may not be permanently connected with the sealing plugs. The nozzle assemblies shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 9 provide a convenient arrangement for the ready removal of the nozzle assembly only, without the plug, in case is should be desired to clean out the ducts of the nozzle.

Having thus described the invention, what I -claim as new is:-

l. A device for applying granular materials to surfaces comprising, a cylindrical reservoir for containing the granular material, said reservoir being composed of resilient material whereby when its sides are compressed the granular material is expressed from the reservoir, said reservoir having a closed end and an vopen end, a resilient plug closing the open end of the reservoir and having a central bore, and a nozzle structure having a collar adapted to lie adjacent the outer end of the resilient plug, a tubular nozzle extending outwardly from the center of the collar, and a tubular inner portion with a closed inner end extending inwardly from the collar and constituting a prolongation of the n0zzle, said inner portion of the nozzle being received within the central bore in the resilient plug, said nozzle structure being rotatable in the resilient plug and having an open position and a shut position, said inner tubular portion of the nozzle having a relatively small hole adapted to be closed by the plug when the nozzle structure is turned to shut position, and the inner end of the resilient plug having a hole of substantially the same size as the hole in the inner tubular portion of the nozzle, said hole in the nozzle portion being arranged to communicate with the hole in the plug when the nozzle struc-- ture is turned to open position.

2. 'A device for vapplying granular materials to surfaces comprising, a reservoir for containing theA granular material, said reservoir being composed of resilient material whereby when its sides closing the open. end of the reservoir and having a'central bore, and a'nozzle structure having an outwardly extending tubular nozzle and an in- .wardly extending tubular portion with a closed inner end received within the central bore of the resilient plug, said nozzle structure being rotatable in the plug and having an open position and a shut position, said inner tubular portion of said nozzle andthe inner end of the resilient plug having holes arranged to communicate with each other when the nozzle is turned to open position, and the hole in the inner tubular portion of the nozzle being closed by the resilient plug when the nozzle is turned to shut position.

3. A device for applying granular material to surfaces, comprising a reservoir for containing the granular material, said reservoir being composedl of Celluloid and having a closed end and an open end, a resilient plug inserted in the open end of the reservoir and having a central bore extending throughout its length, and a rotatable nozzle structure mounted in the plug and consisting of a collar enclosing the open end of the reservoir and the plug, a tubular nozzle extending outwardly from thecollar and a tubular inner portion extending inwardly from the collar rotatably received in the bore in the plugand constituting a prolongation of the nozzle, means of not greater diameter than the inner part of the nozzle for closing said innerportion of the nozzle, said nozzle structure being rotatable and having open and shut positions, said inwardly extending portion of the nozzle and the inner end of the resilient plug having holes adapted to communicate when the nozzle is in open position, whereby the'granular material in the reservoir may be expressed through the nozzle when the' sides of the reservoir are forced inwardly, and said holein the inner. portion of the nozzle struc ture being closed by the resilient plug when the` nozzle ystructure is turned'to shut position.

4'. Af device for applying granular Amaterials to surfaces comprising, a reservoir for containing the granular material, said reservoir being composed of resilient material and having a closed end and an open end, aresilient plug closing the4 open end of the reservoir, said resilient plug having a central cylindrical bore, a rotatable nozzle structure mounted on the open end rof the` reservoir and consisting of a tubular conical nozzle having an orice at its outer end, a collar having a flat inner surface adjacent the outer end of the resilient plug and resting on the open outer end of the reservoir, and a tubular portion with aclosed inner end constituting a prolongation of the nozzle and extending inwardly from the collar and being received in the central bore of the resilient plug, the inner end o-f the tubular portion of said nozzle having a hole oii'set from its axis, and the inner end of the resilient plug havingV a hole leading from the reservoir and being of substantially the same size as the offset hole in the tubular inner end of the nozzle, said holes being adapted to register with one another when the nozzle is turned to one certain position',l

surfaces comprising, an elongated reservoir for containing the granular material, said reservoir being composed of resilient material and having a closed end and an open end, a resilient `plug having a central bore inserted in the open end of the reservoir, a nozzle structure consisting of a tubular outwardly extending nozzle having an orice in its outer end, and a tubular portion with a closed inner end extending inwardly from the nozzle constituting a prolongation of the nozzle and being received within the central bore of the resilient plug, said nozzle structure being rotatable and having an open and a shut position, and a plate of substantially incompressible material and of substantially the same diameter as the plug secured to the inner face of the plug, said inwardly projecting portion of the nozzle and the plate having holes adapted to communicate when the nozzle structure is in open position, said hole in the nozzle being closed by a portion of the resilient plug when the nozzle structure is turned to shut position.

6. A device for applying granular materials comprising, a cylindrical resilient reservoir for containing the granular material, said reservoir being closed at one end and open at the other, a resilient cylindrical plug with a smooth exterior inserted tightly in the open end of the reservoir, said plug having a central cylindrical bore, a metal plate of substantially the same diameter as the plug secured to the inner end of the plug, a rotatable nozzle structure consisting of a disklike collar having a flat inner surface and a backwardly extending annularange adapted to embrace the open end of the reservoir, a .conical tubular nozzle extending outwardly from the center of the collar and having an orifice in its outer end, and an inwardly extending tubular portion received within the central bore of the plug, means for closing the inner end of the inner portion of the nozzle, said closing means being not larger in diameter than the inner portion of the nozzle, said plug having in its inner end a recess opening into the reservoir, said plate having a hole opposite the recess, said inner portion of the nozzle having a lateral hole adapted to register with the recess when the nozzle-structure is rotated, said holes and the orifice of the nozzle being of substantially the same size'and substantially smaller than the recess and the internal diameter of the inner portion of the nozzle.

7. A device for expressing granular materials comprising a resilient reservoir having a closed end and an open end, aplug secured in the'open end of the reservoir and having an axial :bore

throughout -its length, a nozzle rotatably mounted in the bore-of the plug, means for closing the inner end ofthe nozzle, said means cooperating with the inner end of the plug to prevent the removal of the nozzle from the plug, said nozzle and said plug having apertures adapted to communicate when the nozzle is in a certain position.

8. A 'device for applying granular materials to surfaces comprising, a reservoir for containing the granular material, said reservoir being composed of resilient material whereby when its sides are compressed the granular material is expressed from the reservoir, said reservoir having a closed end and an open end, a plug closing the open end of the reservoir and having a central bore, a nozzle structure having an outwardly extending tubular nozzle and an inwardly extending tubular portion with a closed inner end received within the central bore of the plug, said nozzle structure being rotatable in the plug and having an open position and a shut position, said inwardly extending'tubular portion of the nozzle and the inner end of the plug having holes arranged to communicate with each other when the nozzle is turned to open position, and the hole in the inwardly extending tubular portion of the nozzle being closed by the plug when the nozzle is turned to shut position.

9. A device for applying granular materials to surfaces comprising, a reservoir for containing the granularvmateral, said reservoir being composed of resilient material whereby when its sides are compressed the granular material is expressed from the reservoir, said reservoir having a closed end and an open end, a plug closing the open end of the reservoir and having a central bore, and a, nozzle structure having an outwardly extending tubular nozzle and an inwardly extendingtubular portion with a closed inner end received within the central bore of the plug, said nozzle structure being rotatable in the plug and having an open position and a shut position, and a plate secured to the inner end of the plug and being of substantially the same contour as the inner surface of the reservoir so as to fit snugly therein, said inner tubular portion of said nozzle structure and the plate on the inner end of the plug having holes arranged to communicate with each other when the nozzle is turned to open position, and the hole in the inner portion of the tubular extension of the nozzle structure being closed by the plug when the nozzle is turned to shut position.

ORLANDO D. SHO-NNARD.

Cil 

